Electronic commerce providing system having orderer authenticating function

ABSTRACT

An electronic commerce server enables an orderer to given an order of purchasing a commercial article at a virtual shop existing on a network by accessing the virtual shop from a communication terminal used by the orderer, and to receive the purchase target article at an agency service trader&#39;s place other than the home. This server includes a receiving unit receiving from the virtual shop apiece of order information of the purchase target article and a piece of information for specifying a desired agency service trader&#39;s place for receiving the purchase target article, of which respective notifications are given via the communication terminal used by the orderer, an issuing unit issuing a piece of identification information unique to both of every orderer and every purchase target article on the basis of the order information, and a confirmation unit confirming the identification information received by the communication terminal used by the orderer through the agency service trader&#39;s place.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to an electronic commerce(EC) providing system, and more particularly to an EC providing systemhaving an orderer authenticating function.

[0002] With an explosive spread of the Internet evolved, the electroniccommerce (EC) on the network-based platform (environment) has beenaccelerated over the recent years. A multiplicity of virtual shops (ECshops) targeting sales of commercial articles exists as an EC site onthe networks in the EC providing system.

[0003] In the case of purchasing an article from any one of those ECshops, the purchaser must be in home to receive the purchase targetarticle, and this requirement of being in home may be a barrier tounmarried persons and double-income families.

[0004] Obviation of this problem requires a system in which the purchasetarget article is handed over to the purchaser at a retailer shop suchas a convenience store and so on, and a usability of this system rises.This system, however, still have some points unfriendly to the orderer(who may be called a purchaser or consumer).

[0005] Normally, when the orderer receives the article purchased fromthe EC shop at the retailer (agency service trader) shop such as theconvenience store etc, the EC shop and the agency service trader need toagree upon a delivery and receipt of the article, an agency service forthe hand-over and further a settlement work.

[0006] It is in fact impossible that the multiplicity of EC shopsexisting on the network have the contracts with each of the agencyservice traders performing the works such as the hand-over of thepurchase target articles. Therefore, the orderer is unable to specify anarbitrary desired agency service trader to receive the purchase targetarticle, with the result that the utilizable EC shops are limited. Thisdoes not satisfy the demand of the orderer.

[0007] Further, when the orderer receives the purchase target article atthe shop of the agency service trader, the identity of the orderer isconfirmed by showing a sheet of record or the like handed when giving anorder of the article, and its credibility still remains imperfect.

[0008] Moreover, the EC shop can get a confirmation about a state of thearticle hand-over to the orderer from a home delivery service traderwhen delivering the article to the home, however, a problem is that theEC shop is unable to confirm the article hand-over to the orderer if thearticle is delivered to the agency service trader shop like theconvenience store etc. This makes it difficult for the EC shop to decidea time for starting the service such as an after-sales care etc thatshould be provided to the orderer.

[0009] As explained above, the conventional EC providing system iscapable of improving the usability to such an extent that the orderercan receive the target article purchased from the EC shop at the agencyservice trader shop such as the convenience store etc, but has no suchcontrivance that the orderer can specify a desired agency service tradershop such as a nearby convenience store.

[0010] The conventional EC providing system does not include a highlycredible system for confirming the orderer when the orderer receives thepurchase target article.

[0011] Further, the EC shop, unlike the home delivery of the article,needs the in-between agency service trader through which the ordererreceives the article, resulting in a time lag of receipt. Therefore, theEC shop inevitably loses a proper timing for providing the after-salescare (customer management) to the customer after purchasing the article.

[0012] Moreover, it is difficult for a middle- or small-sized EC shop toprovide the orderer with an advantageous service in terms of aneconomical factor.

[0013] Accordingly, prosperity of the EC market cannot be expected inthe conventional EC providing system containing these factors thatprevent the development of the E-commerce.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] It is a primary object of the present invention, which wasdevised to obviate the various problems described above, to provide atechnique and a method capable of speeding up a development ofE-commerce.

[0015] It is another object of the present invention to provide atechnique and a method capable of authenticating the identity of anorderer (purchaser) by utilizing a communication terminal possessed bythe orderer.

[0016] It is a further object of the present invention to provide atechnique and a method capable of integrating a series of works relatedto network shopping.

[0017] To accomplish these objects, according to one aspect of thepresent invention, a first electronic commerce server enables an ordererto given an order of purchasing a commercial article at a virtual shopexisting on a network by accessing the virtual shop from a communicationterminal used by the orderer, and to receive the purchase target articleat an agency service trader's place other than the home. The electroniccommerce server comprises a receiving unit receiving from the virtualshop a piece of order information of the purchase target article and apiece of information for specifying a desired agency service trader'splace for receiving the purchase target article, of which respectivenotifications are given via the communication terminal used by theorderer, an issuing unit issuing a piece of identification informationunique to both of every orderer and every purchase target article on thebasis of the order information, and a confirmation unit confirming theidentification information received by the communication terminal usedby the orderer through the agency service trader's place.

[0018] According to a second electronic commerce server, the issuingunit may include a generation unit generating the identificationinformation unique to every orderer and to every purchase target articlefrom a one-way function on the basis of the order information receivedfrom the virtual shop.

[0019] According to a third electronic commerce server, the generationunit may set the identification information so as to contain numerals ofspecified digits of a telephone number corresponding to thecommunication terminal used by the orderer that is contained in theorder information.

[0020] A fourth electronic commerce server may further comprise a unitnotifying the virtual shop of a request for delivering the purchasetarget article and receiving a home delivery slip number as a responseof the delivery of the purchase target article from the virtual shop.

[0021] A fifth electronic commerce server may further comprise a unitnotifying the communication terminal specified by the orderer of theidentification information and a receivable date and time for receivingthe purchase target article, and notifying the desired agency servicetrader's place for receiving the purchase target article, of a name ofthe orderer, a name of the purchase target article and the home deliveryslip number which are contained in the order information.

[0022] The present invention is schemed to provide a usability of alife-space of the orderer by adding a new mode for utilizing a mobilecommunication terminal (such as a mobile phone terminal and a PDA(Personal Digital Assistant and so on). The present invention is alsoschemed to authenticate the identity of the orderer with a highcredibility on the basis of a technology of recognizing an owner of themobile communication terminal and a piece of orderer authenticationinformation generated by a computer system on the network by preferablyutilizing a technology in an IMT-2000 (International MobileTelecommunication System 2000) as a next generation mobile communicationsystem.

[0023] The IMT-2000 system has characteristics of actualizing globalservices (provided in a variety of utilizing modes and utilizable overthe boundaries of areas) and providing multimedia communication services(exhibiting a high affinity with the Internet).

[0024] It is a prospective view that Mobile-IP will be introduced intothis IMT-2000 system in near future. Further, if IPv6 is introduced,unique IP addresses are allocated too all the mobile communicationterminals, and the terminal owners can be recognized without beinglimited to the telephone numbers of the mobile communication terminals.

[0025] Moreover, in the IMT-2000 system, it is compulsory to use UIM(Universal Subscriber Identity Module) as a contact smart card definedas an upper compatibility IC card of a contact smart card SIM(Subscriber Identity Module) adopted in GSM (Global System for MobileCommunications). The subscriber information such as a telephone numberand so on is written not to the mobile communication terminal but to thecontact smart card UIM.

[0026] The contact smart card UIM is connected to (inserted into) themobile communication terminal, whereby the user can separately use themobile communication terminal as the user intends. If a credit functionis added, the UIM can be used as a substitute for electronic money onthe mobile communication terminal, and can be, if recorded withindividual information, used as a substitute for ID for identify theindividual.

[0027] According to the present invention, when buying the commercialarticle at the EC shop on the network and specifying an agency servicetrader shop like a convenience store desired by the orderer as apurchase target article receiving place, a computer system on thenetwork for providing the EC services generates a piece ofauthentication information (orderer authentication identifier) neededfor receiving the article from the telephone number or the like of thecommunication terminal by use of an encryption technology such as aone-way function, and automatically transmits the authenticationinformation to the communication terminal that is daily carried or usedby the orderer.

[0028] When the orderer confirms a delivery state of the purchase targetarticle on the communication terminal possessed by the orderer, theauthentication information is used as a key. The orderer isauthenticated by showing the authentication information to a shop workerwhen receiving the article at the convenience store or by transferringpieces of authentication information accumulated in the communicationterminal to a POS terminal of the convenience store. At the same time,the communication terminal or the POS terminal of the convenience storenotifies the computer system on the network of a piece of informationindicating a receipt of the article.

[0029] The computer system notifies the EC shop receiving the order thatthe receipt of the article by the orderer is finished, and the EC shopcan smoothly move to a service stage of providing the orderer with anafter-sales care after purchasing the article.

[0030] According to the present invention, the identity of the orderer(purchaser) can be authenticated by utilizing the communication terminalpossessed by the orderer, and a series of works related to the networkshopping can be integrated.

[0031] The computer system on the network is connected to businessnetworks of enterprises (such as agency service traders such as theconvenience stores, kiosk etc, home delivery service traders, settlementinstitutions and so forth) related to the EC services, whereby abusiness for controlling and integrating the information necessary for aseries of business transactions relative to the orderer's purchasing thearticle on the network.

[0032] According to the present invention, the computer system embracesand actualizes commerce procedures and a credit guaranty needed perenterprise, whereby new economic values can be created on the network.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] The foregoing and other features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more readily appreciated as the same becomesbetter understood by reference to the following detailed descriptionwhen taken into conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0034]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an architecture of an electroniccommerce (EC) providing system in one embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0035]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed architecture of acomputer system (ASP);

[0036]FIG. 3 is a diagram showing one example of input information givenfrom an orderer;

[0037]FIG. 4 is a diagram showing one example of key parameters when anEC shop refers to the information;

[0038]FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a structure of adatabase;

[0039]FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a structure of adatabase;

[0040]FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of generatingan orderer authentication identifier ASP-ID using Hash functions;

[0041]FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing one example of the ASP-IDgenerated;

[0042]FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a mapping of the identifiers to Hashvalue extraction rules;

[0043]FIG. 10 is a view showing a flow of e-commerce from purchasing thearticle to notifying of a completion of receipt thereof (from purchasingthe article to an arrival of the article at a convenience store);

[0044]FIG. 11 is a view showing a flow of e-commerce from purchasing thearticle to notifying of the completion of receipt thereof (from thearrival of the article at the convenience store to the completion ofreceipt of the article);

[0045]FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a case where the article ordererreceives the article and pays a price thereof at the convenience store;

[0046]FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a case where the article orderermakes a payment procedure when giving an order of the article byutilizing an orderer's own network bank;

[0047]FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a flow of an identityauthentication process when receiving the article;

[0048]FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a display image of the ASP-ID on adisplay screen of the mobile terminal;

[0049]FIG. 16 is a view showing a flow of inquiry from each businesspartner to the completion of receipt of the article;

[0050]FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an inquiry processing flow when theorderer requests the ASP to confirm a delivery state of the article;

[0051]FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an image of a menu screen whenperforming an operation such as confirming the delivery of the articleon the mobile terminal;

[0052]FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a flow of processes up to the receiptof the article when the ASP provides simultaneous network bankingservices;

[0053]FIG. 20 is a flowchart of processing when the EC shop refers to aconvenience store list managed by the ASP;

[0054]FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a specific processing image when theEC shop refers to a convenience store list managed by the ASP;

[0055]FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing an article delivery request givenfrom the ASP; and

[0056]FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a processing flow of linkage betweenthe ASP-ID and an article delivery slip number.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0057] Next, preferred embodiments of the present invention willhereinafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0058] [Architecture of Electronic Commerce Providing System]

[0059]FIG. 1 shows an architecture of an electronic commerce (EC)providing system in one embodiment of the present invention. referringto FIG. 1, an EC providing system 1 includes an Internet 2 categorizedas an IP (Internet Protocol) communication network.

[0060] The Internet 2 accommodates a computer system 3 for controllinghow EC services are to be provided, a virtual shop (an EC shop) 4, ahome delivery service company 5 such as a transport company, and asettlement institution 6 including a bank and a settlement agent.

[0061] The computer system 3 is defined as an agent (dealing agent)server possessed by an ASP (Application Service Provider) and, as willbe explained later on, takes an architecture shown in FIG. 2. Thisembodiment takes a form in which the computer system 3 is accommodateddirectly in the Internet 2 but may also be accommodated in an individualnetwork and connected to the Internet 2 via a gateway.

[0062] The EC shop 4, the home delivery service company 5 and thesettlement institution 6 act as business partners in EC servicestogether with a convenience store that will be described later on. Eachof the EC shop 4, the home delivery service company 5 and the settlementinstitution 6 is defined as strictly at least one server computeraccommodated in the Internet 2.

[0063] The present EC providing system 1 further includes a mobilecommunication network 7. The mobile communication network 7 is connectedto the Internet 2 and the computer system 3 via gateways GW1, GW2 eachincorporating a protocol converting function. Herein, the mobilecommunication network 7 is illustrated as a single communication networkbut is actually configured by a plurality of mobile communicationnetworks administered respectively by a plurality of mobile commoncarriers. Further, if a CATV (Cable Television) transmission network isutilized for the communications, the mobile communication network 7 isrelated (linked) to the CATV network.

[0064] The mobile communication network 7 accommodates a mobile terminal(communication terminal) 8 serving as a subscriber terminal. The mobileterminal 8 may be, if provided with a communication function with thecomputer system 3, an information display function and an informationspecifying function, one of a single unit or a composite unit of ani-mode, EZweb or J-sky mobile phone and a PDA (Personal DigitalAssistant).

[0065] Namely, the mobile terminal 8 is required to be a mobilecommunication terminal capable of readily receiving from the computersystem 3 an orderer authentication identifier (ASP-ID) when an orderer(purchaser) receives a purchase target commercial article, and showingthe orderer authentication identifier to an article receiving place(which is herein the convenience store).

[0066] As will be explained in depth, according to the presentinvention, a contact smart card (UIM, SIM cards) or a contact-less smartcard is utilized as a memory card (IC card), whereby the orderer canreceive the purchase target article at the article receiving place asfrom an agency service trader.

[0067] In the case of taking the orderer authentication mode based onthe memory card as described above, an L-mode oriented fixed telephoneterminal or a communication terminal like a personal computer as aninformation terminal, may substitute for the mobile terminal 8. Whenutilizing one of these communication terminals as a substitute for themobile terminal 8, a corresponding common carrier network such as thefixed telephone network or the CATV network becomes an in-betweennetwork.

[0068] The Internet 2 accommodates an information terminal 9 like thepersonal computer as the communication terminal. The L-mode orientedfixed telephone terminal may also be used as this information terminal9. Required functions that the information terminal 9 has, are a content(information) specifying function and a content display function on atarget EC site (Website), and a communication function with the computersystem 3.

[0069] The mobile terminal 8 and the information terminal 9 are thecommunication terminals enabling the orderer to purchase the commercialarticle. Accordingly, each of these communication terminals incorporatesa function capable of accessing various categories of informationexisting on the Internet 2 directly or via the corresponding commoncarrier network and browsing the information and receiving the streaming(audio/video) data, and a function capable of performing communicationsof necessary items of information with the computer system 3 having avariety of purposes for managing the information.

[0070] In this EC providing system 1, first, second and third agencyservice trader networks 10, 11, 12 are connected to the computer system3 via a gateway G3 having the protocol converting function.

[0071] The first agency service trader network (convenience store A/POS(Point of Sales) system) 10 accommodates a plurality of conveniencestores (convenience stores A) 13, 14 as agency service traders. Thesecond agency service trader network (convenience store B/POS system) 11accommodates a convenience store (convenience store B) 15 as an agencyservice trader.

[0072] Further, the third agency service trader network (conveniencestore C/POS system) 12 accommodates a convenience store (conveniencestore C) 16 as an agency service trader. Each of the convenience stores13, 14, 15, 16 has a POS terminal.

[0073] A variety of existing networks 17 for a delivery trader, adistribution trader and a home delivery trader, are connected to thefirst large-scale agency service trader network accommodating theplurality of convenience stores 13, 14 via a gateway GW4 having afirewall function, thereby providing consumers with a variety of normalservices.

[0074] The EC providing system 1 described above is configured in a widearea network consisting of the networks 7, 2 for connecting the mobileterminal 8 and the information terminal 9, the network for a settlementservice occurred with purchasing the commercial article and for aphysical distribution service such as delivering and so on, and aservice network for a retailer who provides the orderer with thereceiving place for receiving the purchase target article and for thedistribution trader.

[0075] In this EC providing system 1, when the order purchases acommercial article through the mobile terminal 9 and the informationterminal 9 capable of purchasing the article from the EC shop existingon the Internet 2, the purchaser receives the purchase target article bynetwork (online) shopping in a place other than the home, an ordereridentity can be authenticated by utilizing the mobile terminal 8 or thelike. This EC providing system 1 is thus capable of providing the ECservices schemed to integrate a series of services (operations) relatedto the network shopping, and therefore includes the computer system 3that will hereinafter be explained.

[0076] [Computer System (ASP Server)]

[0077] The computer system 3 for controlling how the EC services areprovided is classified as an ASP server possessed by ASP. The computersystem 3 is, as its detailed architecture is shown in FIG. 2,constructed of a main control unit 30, an interface unit (communicationcontrol unit) 31, a user authentication unit 32, an ASP-ID generationunit 33, an ASP-ID management unit 34, a database (DB) 35, a databasemanagement unit 36, a database 37 and a database management unit 38.

[0078] The main control unit 30 distributes the information to therespective functional units of the computer system 3, and controllingand administering the respective functional units. The interface unit 31makes the computer system 3 connectable to other networks. Further, theinterface unit 31 notifies the purchaser's mobile terminal orinformation terminal 9 of the ASP-ID in order to display and record theASP-ID thereon.

[0079] The user authentication unit 32 collates the ordererauthentication identifier (ASP-ID) of which the POS terminal at theconvenience store as the agency service trader notifies the computersystem 3 in order to authenticate the identity of the orderer (userauthentication) when receiving the purchase target article.

[0080] The ASP-ID generation unit 33, after completing a purchase targetarticle delivery process, generates the ASP-ID as a unique managementnumber used for the user authentication by use of a Hash functiondefined as a one-way function from the information such as a telephonenumber (mobile terminal number) of the mobile terminal 8 that isspecified by the orderer (user) contained in order information. TheASP-ID is unique to both of the orderer and every purchase targetarticle (at least one category of purchase target article among thetarget articles received at the same time).

[0081] The ASP-ID management unit 34 judges that the article deliveryprocess to the orderer is completed, this judgement being triggered by areceipt of a home delivery slip number transmitted back from the EC shop4. The ASP-ID management unit 34 notifies the mobile terminal 8,specified by the orderer, of the ASP-ID generated and an arrivalschedule date and time of the purchase target article.

[0082] The database (DB) 35 is stored with the order informationcontaining the date, orderer information, article information and shopinformation of which the orderer and the EC shop 4 notify.

[0083] The database management unit 36 manages the information(containing the ASP-ID) on the orderer for a fixed period of time.Further, the database management unit 36 has the following functions.

[0084] A first function (1) is to delete the information stored in thedatabase 35 after an expiration period prescribed by law.

[0085] A second function (2) is to search the database 35 embracing thedatabases linked in response to inquiries about a delivery situation, acontent of the commercial article, a price etc from the businesspartners inclusive of the orderer, and sends results thereof back to thecommunication terminal used by the orderer.

[0086] A third function (3) is to receive the article arrivalinformation of which the convenience store notifies in order to notifythe orderer of an arrival of the article at the convenience store towhich the article is delivered, and to update the database 35.

[0087] A fourth function (4) is to receive from the convenience store anotification that a hand-over process of the article to the orderer iscompleted, then update the database 35 and notify the EC shop 4 of thispurport.

[0088] A fifth function (5) is to notify the settlement institution 6,such as an orderer's own bank and so on, of the information necessaryfor paying the price of the article and fees occurred upon thecompletion of the hand-over of the article.

[0089] The database 37 is stored with ever-managed pieces of informationon the respective business partners and on the article hand-over placesuch as the convenience store in the form of a shop list.

[0090] The database management unit 38 manages the article hand-overshop list of the convenience store etc and the article delivery process,and has the following functions.

[0091] A first function (1) is to periodically update the articlehand-over shop list of the convenience store etc.

[0092] A second function (2) is to notify the EC shop 4 of an articledelivery request containing the orderer information, the articleinformation, the receiving convenience store and so on.

[0093] A third function (3) is to input the home delivery slip number tothe article delivery request, receive the information sent back from theEC shop 4 and update and manage the database 37. Note that the EC shop 4pads the home delivery slip number to the article delivery request ofwhich the database management unit 38 notified, and sends it back as anarticle delivery response.

[0094] A fourth function (4) is to repeatedly notify he EC shot 4 of thedelivery request a predetermined number of times if the EC shop 4 doesnot send the article delivery response and judge, if there is noresponse, that the service is not available. Then, the EC shop 4concerned is blacklisted. Further, the article orderer is notified ofthis purport.

[0095] According to this computer system 3, the functional units 30through 38 cooperate to perform the functions described above on thebasis of an EC service providing program (process execution program)downloaded into a main storage unit (unillustrated) from the hard disk.

[0096] In the computer system 3, the contents stored in the database 35are generated and formatted per orderer based on the input informationgiven from the orderer. FIG. 3 shows one example of the inputinformation given from the orderer. The orderer inputs necessary itemsof information through the information terminal 9 when purchasing thearticle at the EC shop 4.

[0097] This set of input information contains a telephone number (MSN)of the specified mobile terminal 8 desiring to have notifications of anASP-ID and a receivable date and time, a name, an address and atelephone number (of a home fixed telephone terminal as a piece ofcontact information) of the orderer, a name of the article, the numberof articles, an article number and a settlement method (if a creditsettlement is selected, a settlement number (bank account number) isinputted, and, in the case of a payment at the convenience store, the“payment” is selected), and a delivery destination (a name and alocation of the convenience store are selected).

[0098] The EC shop 4 refers to the computer system 3 for the informationin order to confirm a receipt of the article and a state of the payment,wherein parameters shown by way of one example in FIG. 4 are used as akey suite. These key parameters when the EC shop refers the informationto the computer system 3 are the name of the article, the articlenumber, the name of the orderer, the date of order, the address, thecontact information and the home delivery destination (to which thearticle is delivered).

[0099] The computer system 3 includes three types of databases shown inFIGS. 5 and 6.

[0100] A first type (1) of database is a database 351 in which the dataare generated, formatted and deleted per orderer.

[0101] A second type (2) of database is a database 352 in which the dataare generated, formatted and deleted per ASP-ID.

[0102] A third type (3) of database is a set of databases 371, 372, 373that are ever-managed by the computer system 3 and providedcorresponding to the respective business partners.

[0103] Herein, the databases 351, 352 are created in the database 35.Further, the databases 371, 372, 373 are created in the database 37, thedatabases 351, 352 are day-by-day-managed databases, and their data aresequentially deleted after a cancel effective period has been expired.

[0104] The database 351 is stored with the name of the orderer, thetelephone number of the orderer, the date of order, the name of the ECshop, the name of the order article, the number of the articles orderedand the ASP-ID. The database 352 is stored with the ASP-ID, aconvenience store code, a settlement institution code, a home deliveryservice trader code and a home delivery slip number. The database 351 islinked through the ASP-ID serving as key information to the database352.

[0105] The databases 371, 372, 373 are databases for storing thedelivery destination (convenience store) code, the settlementinstitution code and the home delivery service trader code. The database371 is stored with the convenience store code, a name of the conveniencestore, a location and a telephone number.

[0106] The database 372 is stored with the settlement institution code,a name of the settlement institution (name of a bank branch office) anda bank account number. The computer system 3 manages, based on thedatabase 372, the settlement bank information (article price paymentinstitution) of which the EC shop 4 notifies.

[0107] Further, the database 373 is stored with the home deliveryservice trader code and the name of the home deliver service trader. Thecomputer system 3 manages the home delivery service trader coder and thename of the home delivery service trader on the basis of the database373 in order to respond to an inquiry about an article deliver state.

[0108] A program executed by the computer system 3 to execute respectiveprocesses according to the present invention, which will be explainedlater on, is loaded beforehand into the hard disk of a hard disk drivefrom a CD-ROM or a floppy disk by an unillustrated CD-ROM drive orfloppy disk drive.

[0109] Further, the interface unit 31 may store this process executionprogram into the hard disk via the Internet 2. The process executionprogram is downloaded into the main storage unit (not shown) from thehard disk, and controls the respective units of the computer system 3 toexecute the processes according to the present invention.

[0110] [Generation of Orderer Authentication Identifier (ASP-ID) inComputer System]

[0111] The computer system (ASP) 3 needs to generate, as a uniquenumber, the ASP-ID used for authenticating the orderer. This is becauseit is a basic rule that the ASP 3 issues one single ASP-ID per ordererand per purchase target article (at least one category of purchasetarget article among the target articles received at the same time).

[0112] The ID used for receiving the article is set absolutely unique noto be duplicated with others, thereby ensuring the receipt of thearticle by the purchaser himself or herself and enabling the purchaserto confirm the delivery state of the article.

[0113] In case the ASO-ID is duplicated, if the identical purchaserconsecutively orders the different agency service traders, it isdifficult to specify the article to be received, and besides it is, as amatter of fact, impossible to confirm the article delivery state.

[0114] Given herein is an explanation of one example of a method bywhich the ASP-ID generation unit 33 of the ASP 3 generates the ASP-ID.One-way function MD5 (Message Digest 5) widely used among the Hashfunctions defined as one of encryption technologies, generates a 128-bitHash value.

[0115] What is characteristic of the one-way function is that y can becalculated fast from x in the formula such as y=f (x), however, it isdifficult to reversely obtain x from y, and a tremendous quantity ofcalculation time is needed. Under the using environment of the mobilecommunication terminals of which the immediateness is demanded, it is ofimportance in terms of both the immediateness and utility to obtain arandom number (Hash value) at a high speed.

[0116] A specific example of generating the ASP-ID by use of the one-wayfunction MD5 is explained. The ASP-ID can be, however, generated by useof Internet standard algorithm MD4 defined as a similar one-way functionand SHA1 as well. The ASP-ID can be also generated by use of otherencryption technologies (e.g., common key/public key cryptographicsystem, One-Time-Password system and so forth) in combination.

[0117]FIG. 7 shows an example where the ASP-ID generation unit 33generates the ASP-ID by use of the Hash function (program).

[0118] The ASP-ID generation unit 33 selects proper items of data (e.g.,the telephone number of the communication terminal, the name of theorderer, the address and the IP address) from the input informationinputted by the article purchaser when giving an order. Then, the ASP-IDgeneration unit 33 outputs, with these items of data serving as inputdata (plain text), 32-digit Hash values (compressed text=cipher text).

[0119] All these 32-digit Hash values can be used as the ASP-ID,however, this method is not necessarily proper in terms of consideringthe utility, i.e., how much laborious it is for the article purchaser toexactly memorize or record the ASP-ID and how much laborious it is toinput the ASP-ID from the communication terminal when inquiring of theASP 3 about the article delivery state and so on.

[0120] Such being the case, a preferable example for improving theutility of the ASP-ID based on the 32-digit Hash values, is given asfollows. The Hash values generated from the telephone number of thecommunication terminal among the items of orderer input information suchas the telephone number of the communication terminal, the name of theorderer, the address and the IP address, are assumed as follows:

[0121] Communication Terminal (Mobile Terminal) Telephone

[0122] Number: 090-XXXX-0400

[0123] Hash Values: 95 04 F7 B0 70 3A 1F 5E AB 26 69 76 28 05 2F 4C(hex)

[0124] Then, the consecutive 4 digits among the 32-digit Hash values arecombined with the low-order 4 digits of the communication terminaltelephone number as one item of the orderer input information, thusgenerating the ASP-ID. To be more specific, the low-order 4 digits ofthe telephone number is [0400], and [0400] is combined with [B070] amongthe Hash values, thus generating the ASP-ID such as ASP-ID=0400B070.

[0125] Further, an identifier indicating an extraction rule of the Hashvalues is added to the generated ASP-ID=0400B070 in order to reduce anoccurrence of collision of the ASP-ID. Hence, the ASP-ID of which theorderer is notified consists of 9 digits such as [40400B070] as shown inFIGS. 8 and 9.

[0126] There is given herein the example in which the consecutive 4digits among the Hash values are extracted in an arbitrary position,however, the ASP-ID generation unit 33 administers the extraction rule,whereby the ASP-ID can also be actualized by non-consecutive 4 digits.

[0127] [Operations of EC Providing System]

[0128] Next, a variety of operational examples of the EC providingsystem 1 in one embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1,will be explained.

[0129] Note that the explanations of the in-between architectures of theInternet 2, the mobile communication network 7 and the agency servicetrader networks 10, 11, 12 are omitted except for their being requiredto be particularly limited in the following operational examples. Whatis herein exemplified is the article hand-over operation at theconvenience store (POS terminal)13 accommodated in the first agencyservice trader network 10.

[0130] In the EC providing system 1, the computer system (ASP) 3 isconnected to the business networks of the enterprises (the conveniencestore, the home delivery service trader, the settlement institution andthe EC shop) related to the EC services, thereby making it possible toconduct the business of controlling and integrating the informationneeded for a series of commercial transactions in which the orderer asthe consumer purchases the article o the Internet 2. Then, the ASP 3sends the ASP-ID as the orderer authentication identifier thatidentifies the orderer.

[0131] Further, if the ASP 3 provides network-banking services at thesame time, a settlement fee occurred between the ASP-network banks canbe absolutely eliminated. Further, if both of the EC shop 4 and theorderer have the bank accounts in the same network bank, the settlementfees can be relieved and reduced.

[0132] (Flow of Commerce from Purchasing Article to Completion ofReceipt of Article)

[0133] To start with, a flow of service from purchasing the article upto a completion of receiving the article in the EC service process, willbe described with referring to FIGS. 1 through 6 and 10 through 15.

[0134]FIG. 10 shows a flow of e-commerce from purchasing the article toan arrival of the article at the convenience store in the processstarting from buying (ordering) the article up to notifying of thecompletion of receipt. FIG. 11 show a flow of e-commerce from thearrival of the article at the convenience store to the completion ofreceiving the article in the process starting from buying the article upto notifying of the completion of receipt.

[0135] Further, FIG. 12 shows a flow of e-commerce wherein the articleorderer receives the article and pays the price at the conveniencestore. FIG. 13 shows a flow of e-commerce wherein the article orderermakes a payment procedure at the purchaser's own network bank whengiving the order of the article. FIG. 14 shows a flow of a purchaseridentity authentication process when receiving the article.

[0136] (1) The orderer orders a purchase target article at the EC shop(EC site) 4 on the Internet 2 through the information terminal 9. Atthis time, the orderer inputs necessary items of order information(input information shown in FIG. 3) based on a predetermined inputformat displayed on the information terminal 9.

[0137] (2) If the orderer specifies the [convenience store] as a articlereceiving place, the arrangement is that the convenience store listretained by the ASP 3 can be referred to via the EC shop 4. Namely, theEC shop 4 obtains, from the database management unit 38, the conveniencestore list containing the convenience store codes stored in the database371 (see FIG. 6) of the ASP 3, and displays the same list on theinformation terminal 9.

[0138] (3) The input information inputted by the orderer on theinformation terminal 9 is transferred from the EC shop 4 to the ASP 3.The database management unit 36 of the ASP 3 stores the received inputinformation in the database 351 (see FIG. 5).

[0139] (4) The ASP 3 (precisely the database management unit 38)notifies the EC shop 4 of the article delivery request.

[0140] (5) The EC shop 4 obtains the home delivery slip number from thehome delivery service trader 5 when delivering the article and sends itback to the ASP 3. The ASP 3 (the database management units 36, 38)receives this home delivery slip number, and updates and manages thedatabase 352. With this process, the ASP 3 judges that the articledelivery is completed.

[0141] (6) The ASP 3 (the ASP-ID generation unit 33 and the ASP-IDmanagement unit 34) generates the ASP-ID needed when receiving thearticle on the basis of the telephone number of the specified mobileterminal 8 that is contained in the input information, and notifies thespecified mobile terminal 8 of this ASP-ID by use of a mail function andso forth. In this case, the ASP 3 simultaneously notifies the terminal 8of an article receivable date and time (such as after X o'clock on X-thday in X-th month)

[0142] The ASP 3 generates the ASP-ID needed when receiving the articlefrom the parameters (the telephone number of the specified mobileterminal 8) of the input information, and simultaneously configures thedatabase 352 formatted in linkage to the ASP-ID unique to the ordererthat is stored in the database 351. The contents in these databases 351,352 are retained for a fixed period of time prescribed by law after thecompletion of receiving the article by the orderer.

[0143] The ASP-ID and the article receivable date and time of which theASP 3 notified are, as shown in FIG. 15, displayed on the display of themobile terminal 8.

[0144] (7) The ASP 3 notifies the convenience store 13 as a deliverydestination of the information such as the name of the orderer, the nameof the article and the home delivery slip number except that the mobileterminal 8 of the orderer is notified of the ASP-ID.

[0145] (8) When the article reaches the convenience store 13 as thearticle delivery destination through the home delivery service trader 5,the convenience store 13 notifies the ASP 3 of a piece of articlearrival information.

[0146] (9) The orderer brings the mobile terminal 8 having received theASP-ID to the convenience store 13 where the order is to receive thearticle, and shows the ASP-ID. After the ASP 3 (the user authenticationunit 32) has authenticated the identity, the order can receive thearticle.

[0147] Further, the orderer, even if not bringing the mobile terminal 8,can receive the article by showing the ASP-ID at the convenience store13. More specifically, the orderer inserts therelated-to-the-mobile-terminal-8 contact smart card (UIM, SIM card) orcontact-less smart card recorded with the ASP-ID into a slot of the POSterminal or exposes the card to a screen of the POS terminal at theconvenience store 13, whereby the orderer is allowed to receive thearticle.

[0148] The convenience store 13, when the orderer brings the mobileterminal 8 thereto, sends the ASP-ID to the POS terminal in a connectionmode such as Bluetooth, the infrared-rays and so on, and the ASP-ID istransmitted to the ASP 3 via the POS terminal.

[0149] (10) The ASP 3 (the user authentication unit 32 and the databasemanagement unit 36) reads necessary items of information such as a nameof the article receiver (a name of the orderer), a name of the orderedarticle etc from the database 351 on the basis of the ASP-ID received.Thereafter, the ASP 3 transmits the same information to the POS terminalat the convenience store 13 and displays the information on the POSterminal.

[0150] (11) After confirming the information displayed on the POSterminal at the convenience store 13, the article is handed over to theorderer.

[0151] (12) The POS terminal at the convenience store 13 notifies theASP 3 that the hand-over of the article has been completed.

[0152] (13) The ASP 3 (the database management unit 36) notifies the ECshop 4 that the orderer has received the article.

[0153] (14) The ASP 3 (the database management unit 36) performs asettlement procedure by a payment method specified by the orderer whengiving the order of the article, ad notifies the settlement institution6 of this procedure as the necessity may arise.

[0154] (Variety of Inquiries from Business Partners)

[0155] Next, a flow of a variety of inquiries from the business partnersdown to the completion of receiving the article in the EC serviceprocess, will be explained referring to FIGS. 1 through 6 and 16 through18.

[0156]FIG. 16 shows the flow of inquiries from the business partners(including the orderer) during a period to the completion of receivingthe article (including an after-receipt cancel by the orderer). FIG. 17shows an inquiry processing flow when the orderer requests the ASP toconfirm the delivery state of the purchase target article. FIG. 18 showsimages of menu screens when doing manipulations for confirming thedelivery of the article on the mobile terminal.

[0157] (1) The orderer makes a variety of inquiries of the ASP 3 throughthe mobile terminal 8 or the information terminal 9 as a (Web-oriented)terminal connectable to the Internet. To be more specific, the ordererrequests, it is assumed, the ASP 3 to confirm the state of delivery ofthe purchase target article such as whether the article has already beendelivered or is on the delivery or not yet delivered, and confirm thesettlement date (the payment date at the bank) and the input information(inputted when giving the order of the article).

[0158] At this time, the orderer obtains the information from the ASP 3with the ASP-ID used as a key. Namely, the orderer can refer to the ASP3 for the information by notifying the ASP 3 of the ASP-ID, and the ASP3 reads the necessary items of information from the database 35 (351,352) on the basis of this ASP-ID.

[0159] (2) It is also presumed that the EC shop 4 inquires of the ASP 3about the confirmation of the receipt of the article such as whether thereceipt of the article is completed or not yet and about theconfirmation of the payment of the article price.

[0160] In this case, the EC shop 4 obtains the information, wherein theparameters shown in FIG. 4 are used as keys. The ASP 3 receiving theinquiry from the EC shop 4 inquires of the convenience store 13 and hesettlement institution 6.

[0161] (3) The convenience store 13, it is presumed, inquires of the ASP3 about the following matter. That is, the convenience store 13 inquiresof the ASP 3 as to a state of receipt if delayed in order to prompt thereceipt of the article. At this time, the orderer obtains theinformation with the home delivery slip number serving as a key. If arequest for canceling is given from the orderer, the information isreferred to, and the request for the cancel is made. In this case, theorderer obtains the information with the ASP-ID used as a key.

[0162] (ASP'S Simultaneous Network-Banking Services)

[0163] If the orderer pays the price of the purchase target article incash at the convenience store, the payment in cash involves a contractneeded for the settlement, which must be agreed upon between theconvenience store and the EC shop 4. The EC shop 4, if middle- orsmall-sized, is difficult to make the contract with each of theconvenience stores in terms of the guaranty.

[0164] The ASP 3 apparently performs an agent function for the contractand provides the network-banking services, which leads to an expansionof the customers (including the general subscribers) of the networkbanks.

[0165] When the ASP 3 simultaneously provides the network-bankingservices, as FIG. 19 clearly shows a flow of the banking services frompurchasing the article to the receipt thereof, the business partnershave merits described as follows.

[0166] A first merit (1) is that it is possible to reduce and relieve afee for payment/deposit indications to the network bank from the ASP 3.

[0167] A second merit (2) is that the fee can be reduced and relieved byestablishing a bank account of the network bank administered by the ASP3, which leads the expansion of the customers of the network bank.

[0168] A third merit (3) is that the EC shop 4 establishes the bankaccount of the network bank administered by the ASP 3 and is thereforecapable of restraining a profit rate from decreasing owing to the merit(1).

[0169] A fourth merit (4) is that the orderer establishes a bank accountof the network bank administered by the ASP 3 pays none of thesettlement fees between the network banks owing to the merit (1).Namely, if the orderer's own network bank is different from the networkbank administered by the ASP 3, there occurs a fee for settlementbetween the network banks.

[0170] A fifth merit (5) is that if the network banks with which the ECshop 4 and the orderer make the contract are the same (as the networkbanks administered by the ASP 3), none of the settlement fees occurredtherebetween is needed, so that both of the EC shop 4 and the orderercan enjoy this merit.

[0171] A sixth merit (6) is that the same merits as those describedabove are given to the business partners (such as the convenience storeand the home delivery service trader) other then the EC shop 4, theorderer and the ASP 3 but related to the present EC services.

[0172] (Possible Problems and Troubleshooting Thereof in Implementationsof EC services)

[0173] When implementing the EC services described above, if thepurchase target article is not delivered directly to the orderer's home,a possible problem is that a false telephone number of the mobileterminal (of, for example, a disliking person) when making the order ofthe article might be registered.

[0174] The present EC providing system 1 adopts the following method oftroubleshooting this possible problem.

[0175] (1) The ASP 3 sends a message to the mobile terminal 8 identifiedby the telephone number inputted when giving the order, and judges froma content of response whether this order is valid or not. Then, thefollowing processes proceed.

[0176] Thus, a mistake in inputting the telephone number of the mobileterminal 8 can be detected by authenticating the identity of the ordererwhen making the order. The ASP 3 notifies the EC shop 4 of a result ofthe judgement, i.e., whether it is O.K. or not, thereby making itfeasible to establish the assured agreement of purchasing the article.

[0177] (2) Although based on the premise that the orderer establishes asubscription contract with an Internet service provider (ISP) having apartnership with the ASP 3, the database stored with the contractinformation (containing names of members, members' numbers and so on) isshared with the ASP 3 as part of a linkage strengthening scheme with,for instance, the Nifty (Service Provider Company) business, whereby theidentity of the orderer can be surely confirmed. The orderer can bethereby prevented from registering the false telephone number of themobile terminal 8.

[0178] (3) In the case of tying up with the network bank administered bythe ASP 3, the ASP 3 can share the database stored with the contractinformation for the same reason as that described in the item (2), it ispossible to avoid such a possible problem that the orderer mightregister the false telephone number of the mobile terminal 8.

[0179] (Method of Confirming Article Delivery Process between ASP and ECShop)

[0180] As discussed above, in the flow of processing from purchasing thearticle to the completion of receiving the article, what has been statedin the step (4) is that the ASP 3 notifies the EC shop 4 of the articledelivery request.

[0181] Further, what has been stated in the step (5) is that the EC shop4 obtains the home delivery slip number from the home delivery servicetrader 5 when delivering the article, and sends the same slip numberback to the ASP 3, then the database management unit 36 of the ASP 3receives this home delivery slip number and updates and manages thedatabase 352, and the ASP 3 thereby judges that the delivery of thearticle is completed.

[0182] The EC providing system 1 takes these processing steps and istherefore capable of avoiding risks (that may be troubles such as thearticle price being taken out by a trick and so on) in the networkshopping by the orderer because of the ASP 3 notifying the orderer ofthe ASP-ID after confirming the completion of the article delivery.

[0183] An example of actualizing the linkage between the ASP 3 and theEC shop 4 is that [an HTML (HyperText Markup Language) description of acertain rule] is given to the EC shop 4 (precisely the Web site of theEC shop) for providing a article hand-over function at the conveniencestore. This implies that this function is not provided if there is madeneither the article delivery request from the ASP 3 or the articledelivery response thereto.

[0184] The following two functions are provided by giving thepredetermined HTML description to the EC shop 4.

[0185] A first function (1) is that the EC shop 4 is capable ofreferring to the convenience store list managed by the ASP 3.

[0186] A second function (2) is that the EC shop 4 is capable oftransferring the content on the order screen, i.e., the orderinformation inputted on the EC site to the ASP 3.

[0187] With respect to a mapping of the ASP-ID to the article homedelivery slit number, the ASP 3 manages the database 352 stored with themapping of the ASP-ID to the article home delivery slip number obtainedin an article delivery process confirmation flow (see FIG. 22) incooperation with the EC shop 4. Then, the ASP 3 notifies the orderer'smobile terminal 8 of the ASP-ID.

[0188] The ASP 3 is thereby capable of controlling and administering thestate of the article delivery per convenience store. In the case of theconventional EC services, it is difficult for the orderer to confirm thedelivery state of the purchase target article. It is, however, possiblefor the orderer to readily confirm the article delivery state byutilizing the ASP-ID.

[0189]FIGS. 20 through 23 show details of the article delivery processconfirmation method carried out between the ASP 3 and the EC shop 4.

[0190]FIG. 20 shows a processing flow when the EC shop 4 refers to theconvenience store list in the ASP 3. FIG. 21 shows specific processimages when the EC shop 4 refers to the convenience store list managedby the ASP 3. FIG. 22 shows a flow of the article delivery request fromthe ASP 3. FIG. 23 shows a processing flow of linking between the ASP-IDand the article home delivery slip number.

[0191] The article delivery process confirmation method will bedescribed in depth with reference to FIGS. 20 through 23.

[0192] (1) When giving the order of the article in FIG. 23 and when theEC shop 4 notifies the ASP 3 of the order information, a CGI (CommonGateway Interface) to the ASP site is booted on the Web site of the ECshop, wherein the ordered article code is used as a parameter. A page onthe ASP site can be thereby referred to on a site frame of the EC shop4.

[0193] After determining the convenience store as the article deliverydestination, the ASP 3 records the [article codes] and the [deliverydestination store codes] which are database-formatted therein.Simultaneously, the same data are recorded and managed also on the ECshop site.

[0194] According to this data management system, the same informationcan be shared simultaneously, and therefore a new processing step fordata-sharing is not needed (see FIG. 21).

[0195] (2) Referring to FIG. 23, after obtaining the article orderinformation, the processing proceeds to a processing step of deliveringthe article. The ASP 3 requests the EC shop 4 concerned to deliver thearticle. The EC shop 4 executes the process of delivering the articleconcerned, the obtains the home delivery slip number from the honedelivery service trader, and sends a repose to the ASP 3. The ASP 3,after confirming that the article has been surely delivered, generatesthe ASP-ID.

[0196] At this time if the ASP 3 is unable to receive the responsecontaining the home delivery slip number from the EC shop 4 (no repose)the ASP 3 requests the EC shop 4 to deliver the article a predeterminednumber of times, and, after waiting for time-out (end of retry), this ECshop 4 is blacklisted. This blacklist managed as the database DB 37 ofthe ASP 3 (see FIG. 22).

[0197] (3) The blacklist generated in the process (2) is used from hereonward for checking the EC shop 4 each time there is made a request forreferring to the article delivery destination (the convenience store)from the EC shop 4.

[0198] If this check proves that the EC shop is blacklisted, the ASP 3executes a process of refusing the reference request from the EC shop 4(FIG. 20).

[0199] A series of these processes are carried out in the process ofreferring to the convenience store (the article delivery destination) onthe ASP site through the CGI from the Web site of the EC shop 4 shown inFIG. 21.

[0200] Hence, the orderer is able to avoid the risk on the orderer's ownnetwork shopping when specifying the article delivery destination aswell as when delivering the article shown in FIG. 22.

[0201] The processes on one embodiment discussed above are provided inthe form of a program executable by the computer can be recorded on arecording medium such as a CD-ROM, a floppy disk etc and furtherdistributed via a communication line.

[0202] Moreover, the respective processes in one embodiment discussedabove can be also carried out in a way that selects and combines anarbitrary number of processes or all the processes.

[0203] Although only a few embodiments of the present invention havebeen described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readilyappreciate that many modifications are possible in the preferredembodiments without departing from the novel teachings and advantages ofthis invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to beincluded within the scope of the present invention as defined by thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic commerce server enabling an ordererto given an order of purchasing a commercial article at a virtual shopexisting on a network by accessing the virtual shop from a communicationterminal used by the orderer, and to receive the purchase target articleat an agency service trader's place other than the home, said servercomprising: a receiving unit receiving from the virtual shop a piece oforder information of the purchase target article and a piece ofinformation for specifying a desired agency service trader's place forreceiving the purchase target article, of which respective notificationsare given via said communication terminal used by the orderer; anissuing unit issuing a piece of identification information unique toboth of every orderer and every purchase target article on the basis ofthe order information; and a confirmation unit confirming theidentification information received by said communication terminal usedby the orderer through the agency service trader's place.
 2. Anelectronic commerce server according to claim 1, wherein said issuingunit includes a generation unit generating the identificationinformation unique to every orderer and to every purchase target articlefrom a one-way function on the basis of the order information receivedfrom said virtual shop.
 3. An electronic commerce server according toclaim 2, wherein said generation unit sets the identificationinformation so as to contain numerals of specified digits of a telephonenumber corresponding to said communication terminal used by the ordererthat is contained in the order information.
 4. An electronic commerceserver according to claim 1, wherein said conformation unit confirms theidentification information received by said communication terminal usedby the orderer through a POS terminal of said agency service trader'splace.
 5. An electronic commerce server according to claim 4, whereinsaid confirmation unit confirms the identification information receivedby said communication terminal used by the orderer through a memorycard.
 6. An electronic commerce server according to claim 1, furthercomprising a unit providing said virtual shop with a list of agencyservice traders' stores capable of receiving the purchase target articlein order to receive from said virtual shop a piece of information forspecifying a desired agency service trader's place for receiving thepurchase target article of which said communication terminal used by theorderer notifies.
 7. An electronic commerce server according to claim 1,further comprising a unit notifying said virtual shop a request fordelivering the purchase target article and receiving a home deliveryslip number as a response of the delivery of the purchase target articlefrom said virtual shop.
 8. An electronic commerce server according toclaim 7, further comprising a unit repeatedly notifying of the deliveryrequest a predetermined number of times if the delivery response of thepurchase target article is not sent from said virtual shop, registeringsaid virtual shop in a blacklist if there is no delivery response, andnotifying said communication terminal used by the orderer of thispurport.
 9. An electronic commerce server according to claim 7, whereinsaid issuing unit issues the identification information unique to everyorderer and to every purchase target article on the basis of the orderinformation, this issuance being triggered by receiving the deliverresponse of the purchase target article.
 10. An electronic commerceserver according to claim 7, further comprising a unit notifying saidcommunication terminal specified by the orderer of the identificationinformation and a receivable date and time for receiving the purchasetarget article, and notifying the desired agency service trader's placefor receiving the purchase target article, of a name of the orderer, aname of the purchase target article and the home delivery slip numberwhich are contained in the order information.
 11. An electronic commerceserver according to claim 1, further comprising a unit erasing theidentification information and the order information stored in adatabase, this erase being triggered by reaching an expiration periodprescribed by law.
 12. An electronic commerce server according to claim1, further comprising a unit receiving a piece of completion informationwhen a receipt of the purchase target article is completed from theorderer at the desired agency service trader's place for receiving thepurchase target article, notifying said virtual shop of this piece ofcompletion information, and notifying a settlement institution ofinformation on payments of an article price and a necessary fee.
 13. Anelectronic commerce providing method enabling an orderer to given anorder of purchasing a commercial article at a virtual shop existing on anetwork by accessing the virtual shop from a communication terminal usedby the orderer, and to receive the purchase target article at an agencyservice trader's place other than the home, said method comprising: astep receiving from the virtual shop a piece of order information of thepurchase target article and a piece of information for specifying adesired agency service trader's place for receiving the purchase targetarticle, of which respective notifications are given via saidcommunication terminal used by the orderer; a step issuing a piece ofidentification information unique to both of every orderer and everypurchase target article on the basis of the order information; and astep confirming the identification information received by saidcommunication terminal used by the orderer through the agency servicetrader's place.
 14. An electronic commerce providing method according toclaim 13, wherein said issuing step involves generating theidentification information unique to every orderer and to every purchasetarget article from a one-way function on the basis of the orderinformation received from said virtual shop.
 15. An electronic commerceproviding method according to claim 14, wherein said generating stepinvolves setting the identification information so as to containnumerals of specified digits of a telephone number corresponding to saidcommunication terminal used by the orderer that is contained in theorder information.
 16. An electronic commerce providing method accordingto claim 13, wherein said conforming step involves confirming theidentification information received by said communication terminal usedby the orderer through a POS terminal of said agency service trader'splace.
 17. An electronic commerce providing method according to claim16, wherein said confirming step involves confirming the identificationinformation received by said communication terminal used by the ordererthrough a memory card.
 18. An electronic commerce providing methodaccording to claim 13, further comprising a step providing said virtualshop with a list of agency service traders' stores capable of receivingthe purchase target article in order to receive from said virtual shop apiece of information for specifying a desired agency service trader'splace for receiving the purchase target article of which saidcommunication terminal used by the orderer notifies.
 19. An electroniccommerce providing method according to claim 13, further comprising astep notifying said virtual shop of a request for delivering thepurchase target article and receiving a home delivery slip number as aresponse of the delivery of the purchase target article from saidvirtual shop.
 20. An electronic commerce providing method according toclaim 19, further comprising a step repeatedly notifying of the deliveryrequest a predetermined number of times if the delivery response of thepurchase target article is not sent from said virtual shop, registeringsaid virtual shop in a blacklist if there is no delivery response, andnotifying said communication terminal used by the orderer of thispurport.
 21. An electronic commerce providing method according to claim19, wherein said issuing step involves issuing the identificationinformation unique to every orderer and to every purchase target articleon the basis of the order information, this issuance being triggered byreceiving the deliver response of the purchase target article.
 22. Anelectronic commerce providing method according to claim 19, furthercomprising a step notifying said communication terminal specified by theorderer of the identification information and a receivable date and timefor receiving the purchase target article, and notifying the desiredagency service trader's place for receiving the purchase target article,of a name of the orderer, a name of the purchase target article and thehome delivery slip number which are contained in the order information.23. An electronic commerce providing method according to claim 13,further comprising a step erasing the identification information and theorder information stored in a database, this erase being triggered byreaching an expiration period prescribed by law.
 24. An electroniccommerce providing method according to claim 13, further comprising astep receiving a piece of completion information when a receipt of thepurchase target article is completed from the orderer at the desiredagency service trader's place for receiving the purchase target article,notifying said virtual shop of this piece of completion information, andnotifying a settlement institution of information on payments of anarticle price and a necessary fee.
 25. A readable-by-computer recordingmedium recorded with a program executed by a computer enabling anorderer to given an order of purchasing a commercial article at avirtual shop existing on a network by accessing the virtual shop from acommunication terminal used by the orderer, and to receive the purchasetarget article at an agency service trader's place other than the home,said readable-by-computer recording medium comprising: a step receivingfrom the virtual shop a piece of order information of the purchasetarget article and a piece of information for specifying a desiredagency service trader's place for receiving the purchase target article,of which respective notifications are given via said communicationterminal used by the orderer; a step issuing a piece of identificationinformation unique to both of every orderer and every purchase targetarticle on the basis of the order information; and a step confirming theidentification information received by said communication terminal usedby the orderer through the agency service trader's place.
 26. A programenabling an orderer to given an order of purchasing a commercial articleat a virtual shop existing on a network by accessing the virtual shopfrom a communication terminal used by the orderer, and to receive thepurchase target article at an agency service trader's place other thanthe home, said program comprising: a step receiving from the virtualshop a piece of order information of the purchase target article and apiece of information for specifying a desired agency service trader'splace for receiving the purchase target article, of which respectivenotifications are given via said communication terminal used by theorderer; a step issuing a piece of identification information unique toboth of every orderer and every purchase target article on the basis ofthe order information; and a step confirming the identificationinformation received by said communication terminal used by the ordererthrough the agency service trader's place.